Structural assembly

ABSTRACT

A platelike element comprises at least one undulated edge portion, which is undulated on opposite sides. At least one pair of undulated connecting members are provided, which are complementary to and mate with said undulated edge portion on opposite sides thereof. Threaded fastening means are connected to said undulated connecting members and to said platelike element adjacent to said undulated edge portion to hold said undulated connecting members mated with said undulated edge portion.

United States Patent Konig 51 July 11, 1972 [54] STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Gustav Konig, 7026 Bonlanden, Bonlanden Stuttgart, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1971 21 App1.No.: 108,780

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 23, 1970 Germany ..P 20 03 011.9

[52] U.S. Cl. ..287/20.92 W, 287/2092 C, 52/285,

[51] Int. Cl ..Fl6b 5/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..287/l89.36 C, 189.36 D, 20.92 C, 287/2092 D, 20.92 .I, 20.92 W; 52/277, 281, 282,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1938 Alnutt ..287/189.36 D X 1/1942 Becker ..287/189.36 D X 6/1956 Moore ..287/l89.36 D X 3,070,646 12/1962 Lindgren ..52/277 X 3,267,631 8/1966 Hammitt. ....287/189.36 C X 3,370,871 2/1968 Piarotto ..287/189.36 C X 3,528,559 9/1970 Miller ..52/285 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 589,254 6/1947 Great Britain ..287/189.36 D

Primary Examiner-David J Williamowsky Assistant ExaminerWayne L. Shedd Attorney-Spencer & Kaye [5 7] ABSTRACT A platelike element comprises at least one unduiated edge portion, which is undulated on opposite sides. At least one pair of undulated connecting members are provided, which are complementary to and mate with said undulated edge portion on opposite sides thereof. Threaded fastening means are connected to said undulated connecting members and to said platelike element adjacent to said undulated edge portion to hold said unduiated connecting members mated with said undulated edge portion.

14 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PKTENTEDJUL 11 I972 3. 675,954

SHEET 1 nr 6 Gustav Kdnig PHENTEDJUL 1 1 I972 SHEET 2 OF 6 n mm 5 v Wm S U 6 gm v 1 av AT TOR NEYS.

PATENTEDJUL 11 m2 SHEET 30F 6 lNVE/VTOR GusTuv Knig ATTOR NEYS.

STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a structural assembly comprising at least two prefabricated platelike elements. Such assembly has been disclosed and claimed in the prior US Pat. Application Ser. No. 696,571 filed Jan. 9, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,149 issued Jan. 4th, 1972.

In the structural assembly disclosed in said prior application, the platelike elements have undulated edge portions, and connecting members are provided, which have undulated connecting flanges, which are complementary to and mate with said undulated edge portions of said platelike elements to join them in said assembly. Each of the platelike elements comprises preferably two spaced apart layers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structural assembly of the type defined above with improved threaded fastening means holding said flanges in mated engagement with said undulated edge portions.

This object is accomplished in that the connecting flanges disposed on opposite sides of each plate are connected by threaded fasteners to the edges of the plates. Those edge portions of the plates which are disposed between two connecting flanges may be formed with undulations for mated engagement with the flanges and may be formed further with a longitudinal series of undulations having wave troughs. The fasteners connected to the flanges extend through these wave troughs. This improves the stifiness of the edges of the plates, particularly in plates consisting of two spaced apart layers.

The plate may be provided near its undulated edge portion on both sides with recesses, which are connected by through -bores which receive threaded fasteners, which are connected to said flanges, preferably in alternation. Alternatively, the plates are provided near the undulated edge portion with indentations and with optional recesses and these indentations and recesses receive threaded fasteners, which are connected to said flanges, preferably in alternation. In both cases, the assembly will be much facilitated and it will be sufiicient to connect and disconnect the flanges only on one side when it is desired to assemble or remove individual plates. If the threaded fasteners are connected to said flanges in altemation, the heat-conducting paths will be interrupted. Besides, the nut threaded onto the threaded fastener can be accommodated more satisfactorily and the zone available for an application of force will be increased.

Further details of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing.

F I08. 1 to 3 are, respectively, a top plan view, an end elevation and a side elevation showing a plate for use according to the invention.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are views similar to those of FIGS. 1 to 3 and show a modified plate for use according to the invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are, respectively, a fragmentary vertical sectional view and a fragmentary sectional view taken on line lX-IX in FIG. 8 and show a first embodiment of the invention comprising two connecting flanges connected to a plate adjacent to an undulated edge portion thereof.

FIGS. 10 to 12 are, respectively, a fragmentary vertical sectional view, a fragmentary top plan view and a fragmentary sectional view taken on line XIIXII in FIG. 10 and show a second embodiment of the invention comprising two connecting flanges connected to a plate adjacent to an undulated edge portion.

FIGS. 13 to 15 are, respectively, a fragmentary vertical sectional view, a fragmentary top plan view and a fragmentary sectional view taken on line XV-XV in FIG. 13 and show a third embodiment of the invention comprising two connecting flanges connected to a plate adjacent to an undulated edge portion.

FIGS. 16 to 18 are, respectively, a fragmentary top plan view, a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line XVII-XVII in FIG. 16, and a fragmentary vertical sectional view and show a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a plate 1, which may consist of two spaced apart layers and has undulated edge portions 2 as disclosed in the above-mentioned prior patent application. A series of undulations 3 or 4 extends along each undulated edge portion 2 and increases the stiffness of the undulated edge portion and of the two-layer plate in general. As will be explained hereinafter, the threaded fasteners for connecting the flanges to the plate extend through the wave troughs of the undulation 3 or 4.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a plate 5 having undulated edge portions 6 provided with undulations for mated engagement with undulated connecting flanges. Two series of undulations 7 extend along each undulated edge portion on opposite sides of a longitudinal rib 8. The sectional view of FIG. 7 shows one of the threaded fasteners, which connect the plate to the connecting flanges 9 and 10 in alternation. Specifically, the fastener 11 is connected to the rib 8 of the plate 5 and to the connecting flange 9. For this purpose, bushings 12 having internal screw threads are inserted in the rib 8 and in threaded engagement with the fasteners 11. In this arrangement, each of the connecting flanges 9 and 10 can be individually connected to and separated from the plate 5 independently of the other connecting flange.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a plate provided with an undulated edge portion 13 for mated engagement with undulated connecting flanges 17 and 18. The undulated edge portion 13 is also provided with a series of undulations 15 extending along the undulated edge portion 13 and with concave recesses 16. The connecting flanges 17 and 18 are connected to the plate by alternate threaded screws 19 and nuts 20.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show a similar arrangement. A plate 21 is provided with an undulated edge portion 22 having a series of undulations 23 extending along the undulated edge portion as well as with recesses 24. The connecting flanges 25 and 26 are connected to the plat by alternating screws 27 and C-shaped spring clips 18 provided with tapped sleeves 29. The clips 28 have a hook-shaped portion 30 to facilitate the assembly.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show another arrangement comprising a plate 31 having an undulated edge portion 32. Instead of a series of undulations extending along the undulated edge portion, the latter is provided with slotlike indentations 33, which open into recesses 34. The connecting flanges 35 and 36 on opposite sides of the plate are connected by screws 37 and 38, which are threaded into common tapped bushings 39, which are received in the slotlike indentations 33. As is apparent from FIG. 15, the tapped bushings 39 may be provided with milled rims 40 for an improved grip.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show a plate which comprises two spaced apart layers 41, 42 having undulated edge portions 43. Each layer is provided at its undulated edge portion 43 with a series of undulations 44 or 45 extending along the respective undulated edge portion and longitudinally staggered relative to the series of undulations 45 or 44 of the corresponding undulated edge portion of the other layer. In this arrangement, the connecting flanges 46 and 47 may be connected to the plate by alternate screws 48 and nuts 49, which are disposed in the wave troughs 50 of the series of undulations opposite to the respective connecting flange.

In an embodiment which is not shown here, the two connecting flanges mating with a given undulated edge portion of a plate may be provided with longitudinally staggered apertures for receiving screws connected to the plate adjacent to its undulated edge portion. Alternatively, the two connecting flanges having undulations in mating engagement with the undulated edge portion of the plate may be provided with an additional series of undulations defining wave troughs which receive threaded fasteners for connection to the undulated edge portion of the plate.

Finally, the connecting flanges may be provided with longitudinal series of undulations or serrations in mating engagement with longitudinal undulations or serrations formed on the undulated edge portion of the plate in order to improve the resistance of the assembly to buckling, bending and shear stresses.

What is claimed is:

1. A structural assembly comprising a platelike element comprising at least one undulated edge portion, which is undulated on opposite sides,

at least one pair of undulated connecting members, which are complementary to and mate with said undulated edge portion on opposite sides thereof, and

threaded fastening means connected to said undulated connecting members and to said platelike element adjacent to said undulated edge portion to hold said undulated connecting members mated with said undulated edge portion.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim I, in which said undulated edge portion comprises undulations mating with said undulated connecting members and at least one series of undulations extending along said undulated edge portion and comprising wave troughs, and

said threaded fastening means extend through said wave troughs.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion comprises undulations mating with said undulated connecting members, a rib extending along said undulated edge portion, and two series of undulations extending along said undulated edge portion on opposite sides of said rib and comprising wave troughs, and

said threaded fastening means extend through said wave troughs and are connected to said rib.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said threaded fastening means comprise a first set of threaded fasteners connected to said platelike element and only to one of said undulated connecting members and a second set of threaded fasteners alternating with those of said first set and connected to said platelike element and only to the other of said undulated connecting members.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which said platelike element consists of two spaced apart layers,

said undulated edge portion is formed in each of said layers with at least one undulation mating with one of said undulated connecting members and is further formed with a series of undulations extending along said undulated edge portion and longitudinally staggered relative to the series of undulations in the other layer and comprising wave troughs, and

the fasteners of each of said sets extend into said wave troughs formed in the layer other than that which mates with the undulated connecting member to which the fasteners of said set are connected.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed with a series of apertures spaced along said undulated edge portion and longitudinally staggered relative to the series of apertures in the other undulated connecting member of said pair, and

said threaded fasteners of each of said sets extend through said apertures in the undulated connecting member to which the fasteners of said set are connected.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed with at least one undulation which is complementary to and mates with said undulated edge portion of said platelike element and is further formed with a series of undulations extending along said undulated connecting member and longitudinally staggered relative to the series of undulations of the other undulated connecting member of said pair and comprising wave troughs and said threaded fasteners of each of said sets extend through said wave troughs in the undulated connecting member to which the fasteners of said set are connected. 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said plate is formed on opposite sides adjacent to said undulated edge portion with recesses, each of which is in register with a recess on the opposite side, and is further formed with bores which connect registering recesses and said threaded fastening means extend through said recesses and bores, 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8, in which said threaded fastening means comprise nuts and screws threaded into said nuts and extending through said undulated connecting members and spring clips are provided which carry said nuts and are hooked into said recesses.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion comprises undulations mating with said undulating connecting members and a series of slotlike indentations spaced along said undulated edge portion and said threaded fastening means extend through said indentations.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed with a series of apertures spaced along said undulated edge portion, and

said threaded fastening means extend through said apertures.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed.

with at least one undulation which is complementary to and mates with said undulated edge portion of said platelike element and is further formed with a series of undulations extending along said undulated connecting member and comprising wave troughs and said threaded fastening means extend through said wave troughs.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion is formed on each side with a longitudinal undulation extending along said undulated edge portion and is further formed with a series of undulations spaced apart along said undulated edge portion, and

each of said undulated connecting members is formed with a longitudinal undulation which is complementary to and mates with said longitudinal undulation on the adjacent side of said undulated edge portion, and is further formed with a series of undulations spaced apart along said undulated connecting member and complementary to and mating with said series of undulations of said undulated edge portion.

14, An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion is formed on each side with a longitudinal undulation extending along said edge portion and is further formed with a series of serrations spaced apart along said undulated edge portion, and

each of said undulated connecting members is formed with a longitudinal undulation which is complementary to and mates with said longitudinal undulation on the adjacent side of said undulated edge portion, and is further formed with a series of serrations spaced apart along said undulated connecting member and complementary to and mating with said series of serrations of said undulated edge portion. 

1. A structural assembly comprising a platelike element comprising at least one undulated edge portion, which is undulated on opposite sides, at least one pair of undulated connecting members, which are complementary to and mate with said undulated edge portion on opposite sides thereof, and threaded fastening means connected to said undulated connecting members and to said platelike element adjacent to said undulated edge portion to hold said undulated connecting members mated with said undulated edge portion.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion comprises undulations mating with said undulated connecting members and at least one series of undulations extending along said undulated edge portion and comprising wave troughs, and said threaded fastening means extend through said wave troughs.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion comprises undulations mating with said undulated connecting members, a rib extending along said undulated edge portion, and two series of undulations extending along said undulated edge portion on opposite sides of said rib and comprising wave troughs, and said threaded fastening means extend through said wave troughs and are connected to said rib.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said threaded fastening means comprise a first set of threaded fasteners connected to said platelike element and only to one of said undulated connecting members and a second set of threaded fasteners alternating with those of said first set and connected to said platelike element and only to the other of said undulated connecting members.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which said platelike element consists of two spaced apart layers, said undulated edge portion is formed in each of said layers with at least one undulation mating with one of said undulated connecting members and is further formed with a series of undulations extending along said undulated edge portion and longitudinally staggered relative to the series of undulations in the other layer and comprising wave troughs, and the fasteners of each of said sets extend into said wave troughs formed in the layer other than that which mates with the undulated connecting member to which the fasteners of said set are connected.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed with a seriEs of apertures spaced along said undulated edge portion and longitudinally staggered relative to the series of apertures in the other undulated connecting member of said pair, and said threaded fasteners of each of said sets extend through said apertures in the undulated connecting member to which the fasteners of said set are connected.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed with at least one undulation which is complementary to and mates with said undulated edge portion of said platelike element and is further formed with a series of undulations extending along said undulated connecting member and longitudinally staggered relative to the series of undulations of the other undulated connecting member of said pair and comprising wave troughs and said threaded fasteners of each of said sets extend through said wave troughs in the undulated connecting member to which the fasteners of said set are connected.
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said plate is formed on opposite sides adjacent to said undulated edge portion with recesses, each of which is in register with a recess on the opposite side, and is further formed with bores which connect registering recesses and said threaded fastening means extend through said recesses and bores.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8, in which said threaded fastening means comprise nuts and screws threaded into said nuts and extending through said undulated connecting members and spring clips are provided which carry said nuts and are hooked into said recesses.
 10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion comprises undulations mating with said undulating connecting members and a series of slotlike indentations spaced along said undulated edge portion and said threaded fastening means extend through said indentations.
 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed with a series of apertures spaced along said undulated edge portion, and said threaded fastening means extend through said apertures.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which each undulated connecting member of said pair is formed with at least one undulation which is complementary to and mates with said undulated edge portion of said platelike element and is further formed with a series of undulations extending along said undulated connecting member and comprising wave troughs and said threaded fastening means extend through said wave troughs.
 13. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion is formed on each side with a longitudinal undulation extending along said undulated edge portion and is further formed with a series of undulations spaced apart along said undulated edge portion, and each of said undulated connecting members is formed with a longitudinal undulation which is complementary to and mates with said longitudinal undulation on the adjacent side of said undulated edge portion, and is further formed with a series of undulations spaced apart along said undulated connecting member and complementary to and mating with said series of undulations of said undulated edge portion.
 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said undulated edge portion is formed on each side with a longitudinal undulation extending along said edge portion and is further formed with a series of serrations spaced apart along said undulated edge portion, and each of said undulated connecting members is formed with a longitudinal undulation which is complementary to and mates with said longitudinal undulation on the adjacent side of said undulated edge portion, and is further formed with a series of serrations spaced apart along said undulated connecting member and complementary to and mating with said series of serrations of said undulated edge portion. 